A referendum to borrow up to $30 million to expand Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach failed to garner a positive outcome from voters in District 69.
The final tally of the April 5 referendum showed the 'no' votes at 4,487 prevailing over the 'yes' votes at 2,877.
Qualicum Beach mayor Teunis Westbroek expressed disappointment with the results.
"It's very disappointing but not surprising," said Westbroek. "I know there are a lot of people, especially from Nanoose Bay, who at (Regional District of Nanaimo) board meetings were very upset with the tax increases and so on. I understand that. I don't know if everybody realizes that we did have a $7 million grant that was procured for us by MP Gord Johns. That was a real benefit."
Westbroek cited misconception on how the whole district will pay for the loan that would be used to improve the aquatic centre, now struggling to accommodate a growing number of users.
"I don't know if people, especially that live in Nanoose Bay, realize that they're only paying based on usage, which is less than five per cent," said Westbroek. "With the grant, we're looking at $23 million and I also know there are some other cost-saving measures that we could bring in. The amount of money would be spread over 20 years, by ... I don't know... three-and-a-half or 4,000 homes. So the amount ends up to be very little."
A breakdown of the referendum results:
• Advance voting (March 26 and April 2): Yes 933, No 872
• Mail voting: Yes 87, No 290
General Voting Day, April 5:
• City of Parksville: Yes 454, No 603
• Qualicum Beach: Yes 628, No 304
• Electoral Area E: Yes 109, No 1,502
• Electoral Area F: Yes 207, No 346
• Electoral Area G: Yes 284, No 416
• Electoral Area H (including Qualicum First Nation): Yes 175, No 154
A total of 7,364 votes were cast, which represents only a 16 per cent turnout of the total eligible voters of 45,384.
The expansion plans for the Ravensong facility, which was built in 1995 and is already paid for, has been in the works for years. Almost five years ago, the RDN board agreed to expand the project at a cost of $20 million, to be completed in phases.
The Ravensong plan was delayed when the City of Parksville council decided to have a feasibility study on the cost of building an aquatic centre in Parksville. The cost led to Parksville dropping the idea and allowing the Ravensong expansion project to proceed. The delay has led to the cost of the Ravensong project to go up another $10 million.
Area E director Bob Rogers said the referendum is actually non-binding and the RDN's Oceanside Services Committee will need to review the pool plan and what the next steps would be.
"It will be for the six jurisdictions in Oceanside that will decide just how to move ahead on it," said Rogers.
"I was pleased myself to see it in a referendum because it gave all jurisdictions and all the residents a chance to say whether or not that was priority for them, especially in this time of very high escalating costs and so on both from a financial plan for the regional district," he added.
Westbroek said they will have another look to see if they can cut the Ravensong pool expansion plan budget down and see if it is still possible for it to proceed.
